Azzi Fudd will remain on the sidelines when the Dallas Wings visit Caitlin Clark’s Indiana Fever on Friday. Fudd will miss her fourth straight game due to a knee injury, which she picked up on Aug. 7, shortly before the Wings took on the Golden State Valkyries.
“Dallas Wings guard Azzi Fudd has been ruled out for tonight’s game against the Golden State Valkyries,” the Wings said in a statement. “Fudd went through warmups this evening and experienced right knee soreness. Out of an abundance of caution, she will not play tonight.”
Dallas added that the team was finishing up a six-game stretch in 12 days on Sunday against the Minnesota Lynx, suggesting that Fudd’s last-minute absence was precautionary. Nevertheless, concern spread among Wings fans.
“Ok so like how concerned do we need to be about this? Because I’m starting to get legit concerned,” one fan said.
More reactions followed.
Aziaha James joins Azzi Fudd on the bench, leaving Wings’ defense shorthanded against Caitlin Clark, Kelsey Mitchell
The Wings could have a tough time dealing with Caitlin Clark and Kelsey Mitchell on Friday. Clark enters this game averaging 21.7 points and 8.2 rebounds, shooting a career-best 44.3%, including 36.1% from 3-point range. Meanwhile, Mitchell is averaging a career-high 24.3 ppg on 50.9% shooting, including 44.5% from 3. She’s on a hot streak of scoring at least 20 points in 18 consecutive games.
The Wings won’t have Azzi Fudd to defend either Clark or Mitchell. Aziaha James, who suffered a lower left leg injury in Wednesday’s win over the Toronto Tempo, will also miss out. Dallas is 3-6 over its past nine games. During that stretch, it has been subpar on defense, with a 110.8 rating, eighth-best among all teams.
In the last three games without Fudd, the Wings have dropped to a 120.6 defensive rating, which is 14th in the league. The offense hasn’t been good, either. The Wings have a 109.7 rating in Fudd’s absence, which ranks eighth.
Dallas will also be without All-Star Jessica Shepard, who will sit out her second consecutive game with a right ankle injury.
It could take a monumental effort from Paige Bueckers and Arike Ogunbowale offensively to give the Wings a chance in Friday’s game.
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